Portraits of the Past (12 pm to 4 pm)

De Colores Art Show: Portraits of the Past is the public’s first glimpse into the Santa Paula Art Museum’s exceptional De Colores Art Collection. The interactive exhibit features works by groundbreaking Latino artists, including Carlos Almaraz, Judy Baca, Sergio Hernández, Gilbert “Magú” Luján, Sylvia Raz, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Eloy Torrez and more.

The De Colores Art Collection is part of the Santa Paula Art Museum’s larger permanent art collection and serves as a visual record of the history and contributions of Latino people and culture in our local region. The centerpiece of the collection – and the exhibition – is Miguel Angel González’ artist-themed “Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life).” The four-feet-tall clay sculpture borrows from the traditional Mexican Tree of Life craft to illustrate some of the most famous works created by Latino artists in Southern California. The sculpture is accompanied by a digital guide to allow visitors to explore the tree in detail.

Portraits of the Past presents a diverse narrative of Latino art and history in relation to California. The story and significance of each artwork is described alongside each image.